The “Character Basics” chapter provided brief descriptions of each skill (and you will need to return to that chapter if you need a refresher). When the generic difficulties aren’t enough, look up various skills in this chapter to get even more ideas on the challenge level for using those skills in common situations. Of course, not every possibility has been covered, but this provides a terrific foundation.

Using the Difficulties & Modifiers

Unless otherwise stated, the listed modifiers are to the difficulty. The minimum difficulty is 1. Modifiers may be cumulative, depending on the situation — the tenser they are, the more important the minutia become. The associated attributed is listed after the skill name.

Extranormal Skills

Descriptions and difficulties for Extranormal skills are found in their own chapters.

Skills covered: cultures, scholar, trading
The Knowledge attribute assists characters in finding out how much they know about a certain field, modified depending on the situation. For this reason, one chart of general difficulties can serve most uses of Knowledge, trading, and scholar, and investigation attempts involving researching a topic.

Gamemasters can employ the “Information Difficulties” chart in one of two ways: by picking a difficulty based on what the character seeks or wants to recall, or by comparing the skill total rolled to the difficulties (whichever level the character meets or beats is the amount and type of information collected or recollected). Realize that the less well-defined the skill is, the less information the character knows or finds.

One high roll in any of these skills does not necessarily make the character an expert in that field. The roll represents only what the character recalls at the time. A high roll could reveal a specific detail of the information sought, as well as some hints for discovering more of what the character seeks.

Characters may be assumed to have a general knowledge of their home country, culture, and era, including basic geography, famous people, and common etiquette.

Skills covered: bluff, charm, intimidation, persuasion
Characters use one of several Presence-based skills to influence other people that they meet. The typical difficulty is 10, modified based on the dispositions of the characters involved, but a gamemaster may base it on a skill roll. See the Mental Defenses section for more information on this; suggested difficulty modifiers are listed below.

Die rolls alone should not determine interactions between player and gamemaster characters. Gamemasters should have their players detail what their characters say and do to before rolling the dice. The better the player acts the role of his character, the greater his chance of success should be, which gamemasters can reflect by allowing up to a +1D modifier to the skill roll.
See also the individual entries for bluff, charm (listed with bluff), intimidation (also listed with bluff), and persuasion.

Interaction Modifiers

Situation

Modifier

Target is friendly or trusting

-5

Target is neutral toward character or of equal standing

0

Target is hostile or has superior standing

+5

Target is an enemy

+10

Target is in weakened position

-10

Request is something target would do anyway or target feels is of minor importance

0

Request is illegal or highly dangerous

+10

Target is on guard or actively resisting*

+10

*Do not include this modifier if you are using the active mental defense described in the “Mental Defenses” section.

Interrogation Modifiers

Target

Modifier

Feels information is unimportant

-10

Feels information is of minor importance

0

Feels information is important

+5

Feels information is very important

+10

Would rather die than reveal information

+10 or more

Mental Defenses

In general, the resistance difficulty for any interaction skill equals 10. The target cannot actively resist unless he knows that a psychic or interaction skill is being used on him by another character. If the gamemaster decides that the target suspects but does not know for certain that someone is attempting to influence him, the gamemaster may allow the character to take an action earlier than his turn in the round and roll his mettle or Charisma to generate a new resistance difficulty. Should the character decide to actively defend against mental intrusion or personal interaction, he may devote all of his actions for the round to that task and roll his mettle or Charisma, adding +10 to the score to get the new resistance difficulty. However the interaction resistance difficulty is determined, gamemasters may further modify the number as the situation warrants (such as stress, surprise, or character relationship).

Gamemasters can rely on these difficulties for situations involving the gathering of information. They can be used as difficulties to beat or as a means of reading the results of a dice toss.
To see if a character notices details of a scene or situation, the gamemaster may have the player make a Acumen roll. Unless the characters are actively eavesdropping, searching, tracking, or performing a similar activity (and thus using the search or tracking skills), this passive observance of a scene does not count as an action. Use this chart as a guideline for how much the character notices. If the skill total meets or beats the difficulty, the character gains that much information.

Bluff, charm, and intimidation can enhance a character’s attacks and defenses. The player adds one-half of the difference (positive or negative) between the difficulty and the bluff, charm, or intimidation roll to any one attack or defense attempt (not both) made at Point Blank or Short range. The character must use the benefit from scaring (intimidation), tricking (bluff), or seducing (charm) the target on the same turn as or on the round after the interaction endeavor.

The user’s appearance and demeanor can also affect bluff, charm, or intimidation attempts. The more threatening the character looks or seems, the less effective charm and bluff actions are, while intimidation attempts are more effective. Use the “Generic Modifiers” table in the “Game Basics” chapter to decide how much the appearance and demeanor affect the target, if a Disadvantage or Special Ability doesn’t already provide one.

The difficulty for a hide or stealth attempt is usually the opponent’s Acumen, search (for hide), or tracking (for stealth), either as a die roll (if the opponent is actively trying to find the object or person) or as a derived value equal to the number in front of the “D” in the opponent’s attribute or skill times 2 and add the pips. For a straight value, use 6.

Gamemasters may also opt to add a small creature or item’s scale value to the difficulty, or subtract a large creature or item’s scale value to it.

Because the ability to read in the typical fantasy setting is so uncommon, the ability to communicate falls under two skills: reading/writing and speaking. They both use the same charts, but they relate to two different methods of communicating.

First, determine what the character wants to express or understand and how closely the language in which she wants to express it is to her native tongue. Then, compare the difference between the skill roll and the difficulty to decide how close she came. Characters with a specialization in the language they are using who succeed at the skill roll receive a +3 bonus to determining the comprehension level.

Gamemasters may provide a small bonus to characters with a specialization of a particular language in one skill when they attempt to use the other skill for that language. For instance, a character with a reading/writing specialization +1D in Elvish and no experience in speaking could gain a bonus of +1 to attempting to say something in Elvish.
The character must have the appropriate skill to use a translation aid. For example, a book cannot help a character attempting to speak a language unless that character happens to also have the reading/writing skill.

Idea is…

Difficulty

Very simple, consisting of a short phrase

3

Simple; no slang; children’s story

7

Of average complexity; common bard’s tales

12

Complex; slang involved; epic sagas

18

Very complex; technical jargon involved; academic writing

24

Situation

Modifier

One or two common, basic words

-5

Has a translating aid (book, hand signals)*

-5

Different dialect of own language

0

Language is derived from common root language (speech or alphabet) (ex., two Humans from different parts of the same world understanding each other)

+5

Completely foreign language (speech or alphabet) (ex., Dwarvish has nothing to do with Elvish)

+10

Obscure language; reading lips

+15

Language is unique to an uncontacted culture, from a dead culture, or unpronounceable by the character trying to understand

+20

Language includes many concepts nearly beyond the character’s understanding or experience

+25

*Translation aids might provide their own bonuses, which are used instead of this.

A character can also use the reading/writing skill to create forgeries. The artist skill might act as a complementary skill in such instances as reproducing illuminated manuscripts. Reduce the amount of time spent on making a particular forgery if the character has repeatedly succeeded at making similar items in the past. See Forgery.

Using acrobatics can also improve many of a character’s climbing, jumping, and running attempts. The gamemaster determines the difficulty of the acrobatics stunt. One-half of the difference (rounded up) between the difficulty and the acrobatics roll is added to the complementary skill. The acrobatics attempt and the climbing, jumping, or running try must be done on the same turn.
Instead of adding a modifier to the running or swimming difficulty for particularly challenging obstacle courses, the gamemaster may have the hero make an acrobatics roll in addition to a running or swimming roll.

Acrobatics can make a character appear more intimidating. The player may add one-half of the difference (rounded up) between the difficulty and the successful acrobatics roll to her intimidation attempt. The intimidating attempt may be made on the same turn as the acrobatics roll or on the next round.

During a fall, acrobatics may be used to reduce bodily harm. If the character has not already used his turn for the round, he may rely on acrobatics in an attempt to land properly. The character generates an acrobatics total. For every five points over the base difficulty number of 10, the hero reduces the damage total by one point, in addition to a base reduction of one point. The damage total, however, cannot be lower than zero.

Maneuver

Difficulty

Somersault; pirouette

5

Handspring; cartwheel; handstand

10

Swing over a obstacle

10

Round-off; backflip

15

Vaulting over an obstacle

15

Bouncing off a surface to reach a specific destination

20

Walking up a wall*

30

*The character may “walk” a maximum of her Move in one round; she must have a flat surface to stop on at the end of her turn or she falls and takes damage from the fall.

Condition

Modifier

Flat surface to flat surface

0

Unlimited landing area

-3

Limited landing area

+3

Almost no landing area

+6

Rough or unsteady landing area

+3 or more

High surface to low surface

+3

Low surface to high surface

+6

Slippery surface

+3

Strong wind

+3

Add a twist of the body (per twist)

+3

Performing the maneuver underwater or backwards

+3

Performing the maneuver in the air (such as on a trapeze or bars)

+9

Performing the maneuver on a narrow surface

+6

Note: Characters may combine one or more maneuvers in the same action. In this case, use the difficulty of the most challenging maneuver, add 3 for each additional maneuver (up to five additional maneuvers), and include modifiers as if the complex stunt was one maneuver.

Animal Handling (Charisma)

When attempting to get an animal to do a trick, the character must also roll against its mettle roll (the gamemaster generates this). Examples of tricks include rolling over, getting into a cage, jumping up, and obeying commands. The character’s animal handling total may be modified by the attitude of the animal toward the character. The success of tricks are determined by a roll of the animal’s attributes or skills.

Animal’s Attitude toward Character

Skill Modifier

Friendly or trusting

+5

Neutral

0

Hostile

-5

Mettle > Animal Handling

Result

1–2

Animal looks at the handler in a confused way.

3–6

Animal lies down for one round.

7–11

Animal lies down for two rounds.

12+

Animal snaps at the handler; if hit, the beast will attack the handler until subdued.

The time needed to create a work of art depends on the quality and complexity of a piece. A simple amateur piece may only take a few minutes, while a complex, prize-winning endeavor could require weeks or months. Characters may also use this skill to judge works of art created by others and detect fake artistic pieces. The higher the total is above the creation total for the piece, the more information the judge knows about it (such as flaws, alterations, its creator, and the like).

Difficulties for this skill are included in the “Movement” chapter. Note that taking care in climbing and carrying 50% or more of the character’s body weight slows the character down by two meters or more per round.

The command skill governs the act of convincing individuals to comply with specific directions, as well as maintaining morale during group undertakings (such as combat or building large pieces of equipment). This skill is typically used only with the gamemaster’s characters, though it can be sometimes attempted with the players’ characters (such situations should be roleplayed first, with a bonus or penalty to the command roll based on how well the group participated in the activity together). A high command roll can complement individual participants’ rolls in a group activity, while a low command roll can impose negative modifiers. It generally requires at least one round of planning to perform effectively.

Characters can use this skill to combine their attacks. One person is designated the leader and makes the command roll. If successful, everyone goes on the leader’s initiative. Participants make their attacks with the hit location modifier (to reflect that they’re aiming for a designated location), but the target resists the combined total of all damage done it. If the command roll fails, determine initiative and actions individually.

Complexity

Difficulty

Uncomplicated; imprecise

3

Easy; minimal precision required

7

Requires effort or precision

12

Difficult; requires high degree of precision

17

Requires much effort or extreme precision

22

Requires care and thoughtfulness, or exacting precision

28

Team

Modifier

All members willing to follow leader’s orders no matter what

-20

All members willing to sacrifice life for others

-15

Trained together frequently to work as unit

-10

Trained together briefly to work as unit

-5

Work together regularly, or willing to work together

0

Worked together on a few occasions

+5

Seldom work together

+10

Never worked together before, or more than half of the members hate each other

+15

No interest in working together; all members despise each other; or members can’t communicate with each other

The chart below contains sample difficulty numbers for escaping from various kinds of restraints. Modify the difficulty based on the circumstances of the escape, such as the conditions the character works under or specially designed restraints. The character may not use this skill if completely immobilized. If in multiple restraints, the character must make a separate roll for each one. A Critical Failure indicates that the character has pulled a muscle (and he does his Strength Damage to himself). The gamemaster decides whether he may try again.

Note that this skill does not substitute for the lockpicking skill. The character may be able to pull his arms over his head to use his hands, but he may not be able to slip out of the shackles unless they are improperly secured.

The base difficulty to fix or modify any weapon, armor, other equipment, or vehicle is 10. The amount of damage sustained, the character’s familiarity with the item, availability of parts, and complexity of the task can modify the difficulty. The gamemaster may require a separate devices roll to determine whether the character can figure out how to repair an unknown item. Destroyed parts must be replaced, which raises the difficulty. Additionally, if a character rushes the job, not only is there an increased chance of failure, but the item could also break again soon after its next use.

A gamemaster may allow a complementary use of artist to improve the quality of the item.

Situation

Modifier

Light repairs/modifications

0

Heavy repairs/modifications

+5

Extensive repairs/modifications

+10 or more

Previously built or modified the item; intimately familiar with item

-10

Has item’s designs

-5

Common item

0

Has seen but not used item

+5

Has never seen item

+10

All parts available

0

Some parts available

+10

No parts available

+20

Correct tools*

0

Makeshift tools

+15

*Tool kits might provide their own bonuses, which are used instead of this.

The devices skill allows the character how to use a strange new piece of equipment. In some cases, no matter how familiar the item is to a character, the item may be of such complexity (such as some gnomish works) that the gamemaster always requires a roll.

Characters who want to create new items must first makes blueprints or design instructions for them, using this skill. The more complex the piece, the higher the difficulty and the longer it takes to determine the correct design.

The base difficulty is 10.

Complexity of Device

Modifier

Simple

0

Average

+4

Complex

+7

Prototype

+10

From a culture with a lower technological level

-5

From a culture with a much higher technological level

+10

Consists of many complex parts

+5

Consists of hundreds of complex parts

+10

Has a manual for the device in a language the character can understand

-3

Roll > Difficulty

Result

0–2

Basic idea of what the device can do, but not how to operate it.

3–6

Basic idea of what the device can do and how to operate it; may add the result points bonus to using the device on the next round if the character does not have an appropriate skill to use the device.

7–11

Previous result and may add the result points bonus to a crafting attempt on the device, if proper tools and materials are available.

12+

Previous two results and can design a similar device, if proper resources are available.

A character’s skill total in creating the disguise serves two related purposes. First, the higher the roll, the less likely an observer will be to question the disguise. Second, the total becomes the difficulty number for Acumen or investigation efforts to see through it. If the investigation check is higher than the disguise total, the disguise has been penetrated.

If at any time while the character is disguised she performs an action inconsistent with the disguise, any observer has a chance to see through it.

Although one character may use disguise on another character, the disguised character must actively work at keeping up the disguise using her own disguise skill or Acumen.

The artist skill may complement this skill, or the gamemaster may require it to be used instead, with the forgery modifiers applied as appropriated. Reduce the amount of time spent on creating a forgery if the character has repeatedly succeeded at creating similar items in the past.

Forger

Item Forged

Difficulty

Time Required

Unofficial note or correspondence

6

10 minutes or more

Signature

12

5 minutes

Official document (driver’s license, legal tender, decree from a king with seal)

18

20 minutes or more

Familiarity with Item

Modifier

Intimately familiar or has sample

-10

Somewhat familiar; has seen it quite often

-5

Slightly familiar

0

Has only had it described

+5

Guessing blindly

+15

Tools

Modifier

Have necessary tools and some special ones

-5

Have necessary tools

0

Have some tools

+5

Missing important tools

+10 or more

Forgery Inspector

Familiarity with Item Forged

Difficulty

Intimately familiar

6

Moderately familiar

12

Unfamiliar

18

Completely unfamiliar

24

Situation

Modifier

Have sample

-5

Have special tools for detecting forgeries

-5

Item poorly forged*

0

Item well forged*

+5

Item superiorly forged*

+10

*The gamemaster may add one-half (round up) of the number of points above the forging difficulty to the inspector’s difficulty instead of using one of these modifiers.

Gambling doesn’t affect games that are purely random, but does influence games with an element of strategy, like poker. All characters make opposed gambling rolls, without spending Character or Fate Points, and the highest roll wins. A character may cheat by using Character or Fate Points on the roll, and the gamemaster may give bonuses to rolls for people looking for a cheater or helping the cheater. The gamemaster should consider as many “angles” as possible when using the gambling skill, and add these as modifiers to one or more participants’ rolls.

When used to figure out clues from a scene, the base difficulty is 10. The character must use search first to find the clues or evidence (or have them pointed out); investigation helps the character figure out what they mean.

Situation

Modifier

Information about subject/event is sketchy

+15

Information about subject/event is extensive

-15

Evidence is fairly clear; many clues; familiar objects with expected use

-6 or more

Evidence is only partly clear; several clues; familiar objects with uncommon use, or unfamiliar objects with common use

0

Evidence is obscure; few clues

+3

Evidence is unusual or with no apparent significance; uncommon objects with uncommon use

+6

Repeatedly commits similar crimes

-3 per crime

Distance between crimes (per 80 kilometers)

+3

Time between crimes (per 6 months*)

+3

*While the crimes may have been committed over a greater time interval, the maximum value for this modifier is +30.

Roll > Difficulty

Result

0–2

Basic information about the situation (a rope was used, type of weapon).

3–6

Precise information about situation (probable manufacturing origin of evidence, small details about items in room).

To use this skill to help with an activity covered by another skill (which the character does not have), the character spends the round before examining the situation, performing no other actions, and making a roll of this skill versus the difficulty set for the action. The character gets neither the unskilled modifier nor the preparing modifier. Within the next 30 seconds (six rounds), the character may add the difference between the difficulty and the know-how skill roll to total roll for the attribute dictated by the actual skill required. The character may not use this skill in place of a skill she already has. The gamemaster may limit the number of times per hour this skill may be used on the same action.

At the gamemaster’s discretion, a player may make a lifting check when his character first picks up an object. (Generally, if the object’s weight would give it a difficulty equal to or greater than one-half of the character’s lifting, rounded up, or the object is being lifted hastily or under stress, the gamemaster should require a lifting roll.)

For each round the object is carried, the character makes another check to see if he can continue to carry the object. If he fails the roll, he is too exhausted and must put the object down. If the character is doing anything else at the time (other than walking slowly or talking), continuing to carry the object counts as a multi-action.

Abridged Lifting Table

Weight

Difficulty

1 kg

1

10 kg

3

50 kg

7

100 kg

12

120 kg

13

200 kg

17

250 kg

18

500 kg

23

750 kg

28

1,000 kg (1 ton)

33

1,100–2,000 kg

34-43

(+1 to base of 33 per 100 kg over 1,000 kg)

2,500–10,000 kg

44-59

(+1 to base of 43 per 500 kg over 2,000 kg)

15,000–100,000 kg

60-77

(+1 per to base of 59 per 5,000 kg over 10,000 kg)

The gamemaster may further subdivide the lifting chart if desired to include the weights for the difficulties not listed here.

Lifting Fatigue Modifier

Time Skill

Modifier

1–6 rounds

0

7 rounds to 3 minutes

+5

3–10 minutes

+10

10–30 minutes

+15

30–60 minutes

+20

Note: After the first hour, the character must make a check once per hour at the same difficulty as one hour. If the character fails the roll, then he must rest for twice as long as he was lifting the weight.

Mettle is generally used to resist interaction attempts and mentally damaging attacks. See the “Mental Defenses” section earlier in this chapter for details. Characters with this skill may generally use it instead of stamina to resist fatigue, sleep, and unconsciousness, though there may be some situations the gamemaster restricts its substitution. See the stamina entry in this chapter for information on difficulties.

Gamemaster can also use mettle (or Charisma) to determine the reactions of players’ and gamemaster’s characters to each other and to their surroundings. The more the gamemaster believes that the character should be at ease or frightened, the greater the difficulty. Use the descriptions of standard difficulties to determine the level. This passive application of mettle is not an action.

Persuasion can also be employed to “pay” another person to behave dishonorably, such as through ignoring duty, looking the other way, or divulging secret information. Success depends greatly on the target. A target who is loyal or wealthy or fears being caught is less likely to accept bribes. Use the difficulties listed under “Interaction Skills” and further modified by such factors as the value of the money, goods, or information offered, the extent of favors given and received, and the target’s attitude toward the bribe.

See also “Interaction Skills” for other difficulties and modifiers for this skill.

When a character first mounts a ridable animal, she must make a riding roll against the creature’s mettle roll (the gamemaster generates this). The character’s riding total may be modified by the attitude of the animal toward the character. The character stays in control if she ties or beats the beast’s roll. If she fails, consult the table below for what occurs.

When attempting to get the beast to perform a special maneuver or during events that might frighten it, the character must also roll against the animal’s Charisma or mettle. Examples of special maneuvers include jumping a fence, crossing a raging river, moving faster, or slowing down quickly. (The success of special maneuvers are determined with the animal’s attributes or skills.)

A character attacking from the back of a beast takes a multiaction penalty for having to both control the mount and use their weapon.

Animal’s Attitude toward Character

Skill Modifier

Friendly or trusting

+5

Neutral

0

Hostile or wounded

-5

Mettle Riding

Result

1–2

Beast stops and refuses to move for 1 round.

3–6

Beast stops and refuses to move for 2 rounds.

7–11

Beast bolts in a random direction for 1D rounds.

12+

Beast bucks rider; rider must make a Moderate riding roll to avoid being thrown off.

When used to eavesdrop on or secretly watch an event or another character, the skill total indicates the amount of information gained from the surveillance. Use the “Observation Difficulties” table. A Critical Failure could mean anything from no information obtained to being immediately spotted by the character being observed, depending on the situation.

When searching for a hidden object or person, the difficulty is generally the hide roll used to conceal the target. Otherwise, the base difficulty is 5, modified by the table below.

See also “Observation Skills” for more difficulties and modifiers for this skill.

Situation

Modifier

Character knows target’s exact location

0

Character knows target’s approximate location

+5

Character has vague information about the target or its location

+15

Character has only general idea of what she’s looking for; searching for small objects

+20

Character has no idea what she’s looking for; searching for obscure or tiny objects

The difficulty for a sleight of hand attempt is usually the opponent’s Perception or search, either as a die roll (if the opponent is actively watching for tricks) or as a derived value equal to the number in front of the “D” in the opponent’s attribute or skill times 2 and add the pips.

Situation

Modifier

Watchful target; few distractions

+9

Observant target; light crowd

+6

Suspicious target

+3

Challenging act (such as palming an apple)

+6 or more

Unobservant target; target constantly jostled; major distractions

-9

Confused or distracted target; crowded conditions; minor distractions

-6

Simple act (such as palming a tiny object or sliding a hand into one’s own pocket unnoticed)

Gamemasters may allow a character to make a multi-action stamina roll to complement a strenuous activity, such as lifting or running. The difficulty equals 5 times the current fatigue modifier. The character may add one-half (rounded up) of the difference between the successful stamina roll and the difficulty. The strenuous activity still receives the fatigue modifier.

Whenever a character fails a stamina roll, she is fatigued; all actions are at -1D for every stamina check failed until the character rests for as long as she exerted herself.

Characters can still continue if they are fatigued, until they fail a third stamina check. At this point, the character is completely exhausted and must rest for twice the amount of time that she exerted herself to remove the penalty.

To avoid the effects of a toxin (inhaled, ingested, or absorbed) or disease (encountered in any manner), a character makes a stamina roll. Several factors figure into the difficulty of the attempt, including the deadliness and dosage of the poison in question. For example, a fatal bout of botulism has a difficulty of 9, while a killing dose of deadly nightshade has a difficulty of 42. Characters may attempt to counter toxins once per day.

Gamemasters might also call for stamina rolls against falling asleep or unconscious. This generally does not count as an action, though the gamemaster should award a bonus to the skill total when the character devotes her action to keeping awake. Resisting sleep is a difficulty of 5 per hour beyond the normal awake time, modified by environmental factors (too warm or too cold, noise level, etc.). For unconsciousness caused by wounds, see the “Wound Levels” table in the “Damage” chapter.

Streetwise helps characters get around urban environments. Some situations call for seeking out those living outside the local law, while others can be handled through upstanding citizens. Generally, the modifiers are the same for each situation, but the gamemaster should adjust them depending on the circumstances. It is possible, though generally unlikely, that a character would be well-liked by both upstanding residents and local criminals.

Example: In a village, a character would find it easier to gather information about a particular person (and thus the city-size modifier would be -15 instead of +15), but he might have a harder time getting someone to trust him enough to tell him about it (making the tolerance modifier +15).

Seeking…

Difficulty

Things that are usually easy to find (ex., directions to the nearest police station)

4

Things that require discretion or careful investigation (ex., asking if the local law is straight or crooked)

7

Risky services; finding illegal and well-regulated items (ex., finding out an appropriate bribe for the local law)

Character can rely on survival to figure what to eat, where to sleep, how best to deal with native dangers, and other information needed to get out of wilderness situation alive. The character can also use survival to locate herbs, plants, and animals of special healing or mystical value. (Use streetwise for help in urban situations.)

The base difficulty is 10. The difficulty charts for computer and programming can give gamemasters an idea of how to make tables for other complex pieces of technology. If using this skill to operate communication or sensor equipment, refer to the “Observation Difficulties”
or “Information Difficulties” charts to determine how much information the character has learned.

Complexity of Device

Modifier

Simple

0

Average

+4

Complex

+7

Prototype

+10

From a culture with a lower technological level

-5

From a culture with a much higher technological level

+10

Consists of many integrated systems

+5

Consists of hundreds of integrated systems

+10

Has a manual for the device in a language the character can understand

-3

Roll Difficulty

Result

0–2

Basic idea of what the device can do, but not how to operate it.

3–6

Basic idea of what the device can do and how to operate it; may add the result point bonus to using the device on the next round if the character does not have an appropriate skill to use the device.

7–11

Previous result and may add the result point bonus to a repair attempt on the device, if proper tools and materials are available.

12+

Previous two results and can design a similar device, if proper resources are available.

Computer Use Situation

Modifier

Open-access personal computer or mainframe

0

Networked computer

0

Isolated computer

+3

Accessible by a few people

+3

Accessible by owner only

+6

Password protected

+3

Firewall protection

+6

Files encrypted

+3 or more

Programming Situation

Modifier

Simple programming language

0

Complex programming language

+3

Encrypting program

+6

Number of tasks program designed to accomplish (per task)

+3

Designed to work on multiple operating systems (per additional system)

A character’s ability to grab projectiles out of the air is enhanced by the throwing skill. The difficulty of catching an object is typically the thrower’s throwing roll. If the thrower wants the catcher to get the object, and thus takes care to throw well, reduce the thrower’s skill total by 9.

The base difficulty is 10 or the target’s stealth roll, if the target is actively trying to hide her trail. Characters can also use tracking to shadow a target. A shadowed character can attempt to spot the shadow with a search roll versus the shadowing character’s tracking roll. Gamemasters may opt to include relevant hide modifiers to the tracking roll, if the shadow is being cautious.

To install a trap, use the chart to modify the base difficulty of zero. The gamemaster may award one-half of the points above the difficulty as a modifier to future disarm rolls. This represents the character adding a few extra improvements to the base design.

A pressure plate trigger releases the trap when a small piece of metal or wood (about a quarter-meter square) is stepped on or pushed. Pressure plates may be on the floor or wall. A tripwire trigger releases the trap when a wire, cord, or other material attached to the tripwire is walked through or broken. A switch could be a cord yanked, an outcropping pulled, a lock turned, or something similar. A hand-triggered trap requires that someone watch for the victim to come within the range of the trap’s effect and, once that happens, activate the trap.

When a character triggers a trap, use its speed total and compare it the initiative total of those affected by the trap. Those who have a higher total than the trap are allowed to generate a full-defense dodge total, if they so desire.

Once it’s the trap’s turn in the initiative, compare the trap’s combat attack total to the defense totals of its intended target or targets. (The combat attack total takes into account range.) The trap affects those whose defense totals it meets or beats, up to the number of targets it can affect.

To disarm a trap, the character first needs to find an access to it, which means applying the search skill if the trap’s concealed. Once found, the character rolls her traps against this chart, modified by how well it was originally installed. Traps enhanced by spells must have their spells negated first before the character can disarm the trap. Concealing a trap (including disguising wires, covering a pit or pressure plate, or placing a false trap) requires using the hide skill on it (or selecting an appropriate difficulty for a gamemaster-created trap).

*The gamemaster may add one-half (rounded up) of the number of points above the trap setting difficulty to the disarmer’s difficulty instead of using one of these modifiers.

Sample Traps

Dart Trap: Triggered by stepping on one of three plates placed across a hallway, this traps shoots four darts (two each; damage 1D each; speed 10; combat difficulty 15) at the first two adventurers in the area. Trap difficulty: 21.

Lock Trap: When a character attempts to pick the lock and is successful, a large poisoned needle (damage 5D; speed 15; combat difficulty 10) shoots out and stabs the thief. Trap difficulty: 20.

Pit Trap: The floor falls away from beneath the characters, dropping them into a large dug-out area about 4.5 meters high (damage of 3D from fall). The pit opening is about two meters on a side. Trap difficulty: 13.

Willpower is generally used to resist interaction attempts and mentally damaging attacks. See the “Mental Defense” sidebar earlier in this chapter for details. Characters with this skill may generally use it instead of stamina to resist fatigue, sleep, and unconsciousness, though there may be some situations the gamemaster restricts its substitution. See the stamina entry in this chapter for information on difficulties.

The gamemaster can also use willpower (or Presence) to determine the reactions of players’ and gamemaster’s characters to each other and to their surroundings. The more the gamemaster believes that the character should be at ease or frightened, the greater the difficulty. Use the descriptions of standard difficulties to determine the level. This passive application of willpower is not an action.